The firm claims that both markets are now showing steep declines, with scanner sales down 20% and imagesetter sales down 30% last year.
This move is a timely response to the changing needs of these markets, said chief executive Bernhard Schreier. We will be focusing our pre-press business on workflow and CTP.
All scanner development and production will cease, including its high-end flatbed Nexscan and Primescan drum scanners, as well as its desktop Linoscan range (PrintWeek, 12 April). Two-page imagesetters and polyester platesetters the Duosetter, Quicksetter 460 and Quicksetter 46 will also be discontinued.The former Linotype factory in Kiel, where many of the pre-press products are made, is becoming more focused on the production of Heidelbergs NexPress.
Quitting some pre-press products will result in 13% of the 1,500 workforce being laid off, although a further 60 positions are being created to produce the NexPress.
Story by Barney Cox
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"It's wrong to assume the Chinese are behind the curve on automation - it used to be the case that manual processes were kept becuase it was cheaper to use them than buy the automated equipment,..."
"Incredible, what a business!"
"Sad news. Their prices were unsustainable - it was a race to the bottom."
